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Well, it is finally time for me to sit down and write this post in multiple sittings since my time is now extraordinarily crunched. I am at the end of my time in a horrific realm. I mean school.
It might come as a shock that I chose to go somewhere with my family for my senior trip. But I don’t care much for my class, so here we are.
Let me skip the grit: here are my thoughts on Lisbon, Portugal.
Huh?
Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, a Western European country bordered by Spain. Its population is roughly that of Boston. Portugal was originally Roman, but then the Moors came in, followed by the Catholics. However, there is evidence to suggest that humans have been living there since the 8th century BCE.
Portugal was a monarchy until 1910, when, following the traditions of France, it was removed and a dictator installed. The rest is standard stuff.
As for why I was there, it was a relatively “last-minute” trip. The airfare tickets were originally $1,300 per person (which, my folks believed, was not worth it) but changed about two months ago to $700ish, which is a more acceptable price point. So, I was on the plane to Lisbon, leaving the dump, Logan, at 11:15 PM ET.
It’s important to note that I did not spend my entire vacation in Lisbon. I’m not that big of a fan of cities. Instead, I spent three nights in Lisbon with day trips to other locales, followed by three nights in the Algarve (link will be included here when released), and then one more night in Lisbon before hastily making our way back to the U.S.
An Accommodation, This Was
There are likely hundreds of hotels in Lisbon catering to international and domestic tourists. I stayed at the Hotel Santa Justa Lisboa, which is located in the historic center of Lisbon on pedestrian-only streets.
Did I say pedestrian? Well, I’m right. The hotel’s road is only accessible by car between 5 and 10 AM, between 18-wheelers. You must park underneath the nearby plaza and walk over the rest of the time.
But I don’t think it is that easy! Many of the surrounding roads are one-way and/or closed, and they are narrow and difficult to pass through. Your heart rate will likely double as you try to get to the hotel, much less get out.
I’m afraid even this image does not do the cursed layout justice. Try to find the garage! Also… can’t forget that these roads are all narrow hills.
Other than… that, the hotel itself is modern and updated. Spread out across two buildings, the rooms were spacious for their small size and had worthwhile amenities. Such as free content in the minibar! Complimentary gifts, including sardines, olive oil, and other things I cannot legally have in the United States now.
Do I recommend staying here? Yes, if you don’t need to worry about parking, you can stay only in the main building.
Outside of the hotel are dozens of restaurants. Most of them serve the same fare but will have slight differences. Most of them are good and have smaller-than-American portions (unless you go to this particular one across from the Paul bakery, in which case the cod is fair game.)
Also: if in Lisbon, you must try pastel de nada. It is a pastry like a tart but it’s sweet. They sell them all over the city as well as the country.
The most noteworthy attraction to this area of Lisbon is the Castelo de Sao Jorge on the nearby hilltop. Established as early as the 2nd century BCE, it became the primary fort for the city by numerous factions until the 12th century, when the Portuguese officially took the fort. It has been a monument and has other official statuses. Now, it is the primary observation point for the city, other than the Elevador, which I’ll talk about later.
In addition, it’s on the ocean, which makes the city slightly cooler than inland but still warm. It is cool to see the sunrise in the harbor.
Outside the Walls
Looking back, I spent just as much time touring the nearby communes as I did in the proper city of Lisbon. I want to do it justice by talking about the two towns I took day trips to.
Sunny Caves in Cascais
Cascais is a town that meets the definition of Historic Europe, which means modern coastal cove. The city has some historic sights (e.g., a fort and an old house) but nothing that makes it completely crazy—on the man-made side.
Cascais’s central “to-see” spot is a partially open cave that allows the ocean to seep slightly inland, also known as the “Boca de Inferno.”
For a beachside getaway from the hustle and bustle known as chaotic and loud, the town serves as a nice change of pace while retaining the Portuguese charm you clamored about during the 7-hour flight.
The Royal Realm of Sintra
Just in the next town over lies the mountainside village of Sintra, which serves as the base for one of the tallest hills in the region and is home to numerous castles, palaces, and film sets. Alongside a cute village, as is customary in Europe.
Most notably, on the top of the highest hill lies the Palace of Pena, which was converted from a monastery by King Ferdinand II in the 1850s to be the royal family’s summer residence. Nowadays, the palace is considered one of the top attractions in Portugal. Still, it is a significant headache to get into. (There is no reason why I am saying this whatsoever.)
Outside the palace is a nice network of trails and routes that give cool views of the surrounding region and a respite in the woods. Even though the park consists of over 200 hectares, most people don’t go past the palace, which is a shame as there is a chalet with its connections and more. But people can’t think past the old palace, which, while nice by itself, can use the park as a nice complement.
Just beneath the park is the Castle of the Moors (that’s the name). The Moors built it as a fortress in the 8th century before taking it over by the Christians in the 11th century. Its. Its significance faded as the locals opted for the lower town of Sintra over the problematic area where the castle was situated. While only the outer walls remain, it has incredible views. It is worth visiting to get a glimpse into the life of people over a millennia ago.
Then, of course, there’s the town, where there’s a good gelato shop that I recommend.
I liked Sintra better than Cascais, and I recommend visiting Sintra over the former. Perhaps that is because I enjoy the mountains so much. But either way, both are great places to see if you are in the Lisbon area.
The Big Picture
If you are reading this blog post and wondering, “Hm, will Zach say that Lisbon is a cool place to visit?” Then you’ll be delighted to know that yes, I do think that Lisbon is a cool place that everyone should try to visit when they have the chance—not just the city itself but the surrounding area, as you may be pleasantly surprised by what you find.
Also: Fado music is in the post title, but where is it? Well, unfortunately, while fado music could be seen all over the city, I never had the opportunity to listen to it. But alas, it is supposedly good. So I included it in for good measure.
For another European city, it was pretty good. It’s close to the U.S., which is a win-win for those who are uncomfortable on long flights! (It’s 7 hours back and forth from Boston.)
Here’s to another global city off the bucket list.
Author’s Note
We are back in full swing here at ZachsThoughts. I hope people enjoyed the post!
Regarding news, ZachsThoughts is thrilled to use Beehiiv as the new email service provider for blog posts. The ability to use custom domains and streamline brand operations made it appealing. So here we are! If you want to get the newest posts via email, simply subscribe using the widget below!
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I have a good list of new posts that should bring us into June, but as always, we’ll just go with the flow.
A shout-out is needed to A.R. for correctly guessing something right on something I posted onto the elusive Daily Mental Crisis.
Thanks for reading; your readership and support make this venture worth it. Have a great day!
All photos by ZachsThoughts unless otherwise listed.
